The oldest coach in the country resides in the Big 12, but overall the league has transformed into the conference for young, rising stars.
Three coaches in the Big 12 are under 40, and eight of the 10 coaches are 50 and under. No one in the league has won a national title, but the trajectory of several programs is overwhelmingly positive.
Texas was the last Big 12 team to win a conference title in 2005. Nearly every team in the league except for Kansas and Iowa State has been close to winning a championship in the last decade. The conference isn’t on the same level as the SEC, Big 10 or ACC, but the future looks promising.
Here are our rankings for the coaches in the Big 12. Check out our previous rankings for the Pac-12, SEC and ACC.
Group 1: The Worst Program in the Country
- David Beaty, Kansas
David Beaty isn’t necessarily a terrible coach. He’s 3-33 in three seasons at Kansas, and there isn’t much reason for optimism in 2018, either. Beaty inherited a terrible situation and hasn’t made it better. Since the 2010 season, the Jayhawks have only won 15 games. That’s it. Fifteen. This season might be Beaty’s last chance to make progress before the school goes in a different direction. One thing is clear, though: Kansas is the worst Power 5 program in the country.
Group 2: Things Better Improve Quickly
- Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech
Through five seasons at his alma mater, Kliff Kingsbury has compiled a paltry 30-33 record. The Red Raiders haven’t finished with a winning record in conference play during Kingsbury’s tenure. The program isn’t moving backwards, but it certainly isn’t close to contending. Just how long is the leash for Kingsbury? Kingsbury might’ve bought himself some time by reaching a bowl game in 2017, but he probably can’t afford a third straight losing season.
- Matt Rhule, Baylor
Rhule walked into a disastrous situation, and the 1-11 record in his inaugural season isn’t entirely his fault. During Rhule’s first season at Temple in 2013, the Owls finished 2-10. Two years later, Temple won 10 games, and they followed that up with another 10-win season and conference title in 2014. Art Briles should receive most of the blame for Baylor’s struggles a season ago. It might take time for Rhule to build Baylor back into a contender, though they need to show some progress this season.
Group 3: Rising Stars
- Matt Campbell, Iowa State
Campbell is one of the youngest Power 5 coaches in the country, and it might be challenging for Iowa State to keep him around for much longer. Before the 2018 season, Iowa State hadn’t won eight games in a season since 2000. Campbell quickly transformed the Cyclones into a very solid team. It’s unclear whether that success is sustainable considering Iowa State is one of the most difficult places to win in the country. Nevertheless, Campbell has proven himself as one of the top young coaches in college football.
- Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
Riley was handed the keys to one of the biggest programs in the country at the age of 33, and he took advantage of the opportunity last season. Oklahoma won the Big 12 and made the College Football Playoffs. Though they lost to Georgia in overtime, Oklahoma had the most prolific offense in college football.
While Riley’s first year was impressive, he also took over a program from Bob Stoops that was ready to compete for a championship from the start. Heisman winner Baker Mayfield thrived under Riley, but the keys were already in the ignition for Riley. He’ll have plenty of chances to prove he’s among the elite coaches in the sport over the next few years.
- Tom Herman, Texas
Herman’s two-year stint at Houston turned him into the most sought after young coach in college football. He went 22-4 at Houston, including a 13-1 season in 2015. His success at Houston landed him the gig at Texas, and the Longhorns finished 7-6 in his first season.
Going 7-6 at Texas won’t cut it for much longer, but Herman has already made his mark on the recruiting trail. He makes over $5 million per season, and Texas fans won’t tolerate mediocrity for much longer. The Longhorns might not be ready to compete for a championship this year, but there should be noticeable improvement in Herman’s second season.
Group 4: Eccentric Offensive Gurus
- Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia
Holgorsen was tasked with transitioning the Mountaineers from the Big East to the Big 12, and the results have good but not great. West Virginia has two 10-win seasons and only one losing seasons in Holgorsen’s seven years in Morgantown. In reality, it doesn’t make much sense for West Virginia to be in the Big East, but the school latched on to the first major conference that accepted them.
The expectations will be much higher for the Mountaineers this season as Will Grier returns at quarterback. This might be the first year Holgorsen has a legitimate chance to win the conference. As good as he’s been at West Virginia, he’s facing a lot of pressure entering his eighth season.
The next coach on our list gets credit for being the most entertaining coach in the conference, but Holgorsen belongs in that conversation.
Just another day in H-Town #Astros pic.twitter.com/0SiBo3zlvO
— Dana Holgorsen (@Holgorsendana) May 12, 2018
Just look at that hair. Beautiful.
- Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
He’s a man. He’s 50. He has a spectacular mullet. And he’s also a terrific coach.
Mike Gundy is 114-53 at Oklahoma State, and his Cowboys have won 10 or more games in six of the last eight seasons. It’s been an unprecedented run of success for the program. The only issue is that Gundy’s success has been overshadowed by Oklahoma.
The Sooners haven’t won a national title since 2000, but they’ve played for three championships and made the playoffs twice in the last 15 years. Oklahoma State nearly played for a championship in 2011, but they were upset by Iowa State. Gundy won his only conference title that year, but they’ve still been relevant on a national level since 2010. Perhaps Gundy never gets them to the next level, but Cowboy fans should be thrilled with the school’s success under Gundy.
Group 5: Topflight Program Builders
- Bill Snyder, Kansas State
During two stints at Kansas State, Snyder is a remarkable 210-110-1 with two conference championships. He built a foundation in Manhattan, and the Wildcats are in the mix for a conference title almost every season. Kansas State had four straight 11-win seasons from 1997-2000, and Snyder has only had a losing season six times in 26 years. At 78, it’s safe to assume that Snyder won’t be the head coach for much longer. Whenever he decides to call it quits, he’ll leave behind an astonishing career.
- Gary Patterson, TCU
Since taking over as the head coach of the Horned Frogs on a permanent basis in 2001, Gary Patterson has coached TCU in three different conferences. And he’s won in all of them. Patterson had back-to-back double digit win seasons in 2002-2003 in Conference USA. In seven seasons in the Mountain West, the Horned Frogs won at least 10 games six different times from 2005 to 2011. That run also included a 13-0 season in 2010 and a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.
The transition into the Big 12 wasn’t as seamless, but it didn’t take long for Patterson to break through. In TCU’s third year in the Big 12, the Horned Frogs finished 12-1 and arguably had one of the best two or three teams in the country. They also won 11 games in 2015 and 2017. Patterson’s teams rarely have two bad years in a row, and he’s 160-57 in 17 seasons. He’s the best coach in the conference and one of the very best coaches in all of college football.
